Simple

Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber that is made from the drool of a little worm called the bombyx mori (a fancy name for silk worm).

Cork

Cork is a natural and antimicrobial material that comes from the outer skin of trees. The bark is pulled away from the tree to expose a layer between the bark and the wood - this layer is called suberin. The suberin layer is almost like the fatty tissue of the tree. From here, this layer is scraped and dried. The dried bits get ground up and mixed with latex in many of our pedbeds.

We like to use cork for a couple of reasons: first, it's antimicrobial, second, it's spongy and resilient, and third, because our cork is farmed in a way that doesn't fell the tree.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is cotton that is grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified and have been grown without the use of herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers that has been certified by a third party.

We use organic cotton for lots of reasons. For one, we like the idea that the cotton that is being used in our shoes has a lineage that extends back as far as you can imagine. With all of the genetically modified plants that are popping up here and there, it's nice to know someone in a white coat hasn't been tinkering with a seed to make it more drought or pest resistant. Secondly, we like that the cotton hasn't been exposed to any herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Call us crazy, but when you think about the way Nicorette� works, it's scary to think about how some pesticide could be leeching into your skin. Third, we like that the people who grow and pick the cotton aren't being exposed to those same chemicals - in turn, we also like that these same chemicals aren't depositing themselves in the water table. Imagine if more people gave the idea thought... By supporting farmers that have decided to make this switch, you are helping to ensure that this thriving o rganic community will see that there is profit in organic. It's worth it!

Felted Wool

Our felt comes from sheep. When they get their annual haircut, we collect the wool and wash it in super hot water to get all the fibers tangled and matted... this is how we make felt. It's about the same thing that happens when you put your wool sweater in the washing machine.

We love using wool felt since it comes straight from the sheep. It's a super warm material that helps keep your feet cozy.

Coconut

Besides containing something delicious, the outer shell of a coconut is a pretty tough material that is very similar to wood. Just think of the possibilities...

We like to make the buttons we use in our shoes out of coconut. It's renewable and plentiful.

Recycled Inner Tubes

Our inner tubes come from big tires... not the tiny ones in your bike's wheels.

We use recycled inner tube accents on our sneakers because we like the way they look and we really like re-using materials that would otherwise wind up in a landfill or incinerated.

Hemp

Hemp is a plant that grows like a weed all over the world. While it is illegal to grow in the United States (even though you can't smoke it!), it is one of the most durable, breathable, and heat retaining fibers in the world. Many farmers in China plant Hemp around the perimeter of their fields since it acts like a natural pest repellant. And because of this, most hemp is not treated with any pesticides or herbicides.

We use hemp in our sneakers because it is soft, keeps your feet cool on warm days and warm on the colder ones, and also because it is breathable... the perfect mix of qualities for something you put on your foot.

BLC (Leather) and ISO 14001 (Suedes)

Does ISO 14001 sound like robot language to you, too? BLC and ISO 14001 are abbreviations and descriptions of tanneries that have put a stake in the ground in terms of their environmental impact. This means that the suedes and nearly all leathers that we use in our line come from factories that have committed to continued efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Assessment is taken by a third party and certification is renewed ONLY pending the factories continued commitment.

We use BLC leathers and ISO 14001 suedes because we choose to support the tanneries that have acknowledged their effect on the environment and have taken a proactive approach to addressing their own impact.